Holder for receiving and retaining tools

ABSTRACT

A holder for receiving and retailing tools, writing utensils, kitchen utensils and the like elongated articles ( 42 ) comprises a housing with an elongated slit ( 2, 3 ) for receiving the articles ( 42 ). Each slit ( 2, 3 ) is defined by a flexible lip ( 9  to  24 ) projecting from the respective elongated sides of said slit, and which are adapted to abut both sides of the article(s) in question. The holder comprises several rows of lips ( 9  to  24 ) extending substantially in parallel, where the lips are arranged in pairs opposite one another and present a mutually complementary, substantially wavy shape. The crests ( 25 ) and troughs ( 26 ) of each pair of lips ( 9  to  24 ) engage one another.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The invention relates to a holder for receiving and retainingtools, writing utensils, kitchen utensils and the like elongatedarticles, where the holder comprises a housing with an elongated slitfor receiving the articles, said slit being defined by a flexible lipprojecting from the respective elongated sides of said slit, and wheresaid lip is adapted to abut both sides of the article(s) in question.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Holders are known for receiving elongated articles. These holderscomprise a slit defined by flexible lips projecting from theirrespective sides, and these lips engage the article in question fromboth sides so as to retain said article in the slit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The object of the invention is to provide a holder presenting arelatively high capacity and retaining the articles in a reliable mannerin the inserted position.

[0004] The latter is obtained by the holder described above according tothe invention being characterised in that the holder comprises severalrows of lips extending substantially in parallel, said lips beingarranged in pairs opposite one another and presenting a mutuallycomplementary, substantially wavy shape, and that the crests and troughsof each pair of lips engage one another. The substantially wavy shape ofthe lips has the effect that the insertion of an article causes adisplacement sideways of the adjacent portions of the lips, but onlywithin a limited area around the insertion location, only the adjacentcrests being affected when seen in a direction away from the article. Asa result the articles can be arranged relatively close to one another ina row. In addition, several rows of lips ensure that it is verydifficult to tilt the article back and forth lengthwise to the slit, andaccordingly each article is retained in a reliable manner in itsposition.

[0005] According to the invention the crests and troughs of the lips maybe mutually staggered from row to row, which improves the reliableretaining of the article additionally because said article is affectedin different ways by the lips from row to row.

[0006] According to the invention it is particularly advantageous whenthe elongated sides of the slit are formed by housing parts of a plasticmaterial, and when the lips are made by way of injection moulding of anelastomeric material and are thereby permanently connected to theassociated housing part. The resulting manufacture of the holders isparticularly easy.

[0007] The above housing parts may furthermore according to theinvention be hingedly interconnected and comprise co-operatingreleasable locking means for retaining said housing parts in aninterconnecting position while forming the slit. As a result it is veryeasy to open and close the slit when portions of an article get stuckinside said slit.

[0008] Finally, the hinged connection may according to the invention beprovided by means of a film hinge cast integral with the housing partswith the result that all the parts of the holder can be cast integral byway of injection moulding followed by a folding so as to form the slit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] The invention is explained in greater detail below with referenceto the accompanying drawings, in which

[0010]FIG. 1 is a vertical, cross sectional view of a holder accordingto the invention with two slits, where one slit receives an elongatedarticle in form of a screwdriver,

[0011]FIG. 2 illustrates the holder of FIG. 1 in the extended state, and

[0012]FIG. 3 corresponds to FIG. 2, but seen from another side.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0013] The holder of FIG. 1 is designated the general reference numeral1 and comprises two slits 2 and 3 of varying depths. Both slits aredefined by substantially plane housing parts 4, 5 and 6, where onehousing part 5 forms part of both slits 2 and 3. These housing parts 4,5 and 6 form longitudinal side walls in the slits 2 and 3, which at theends are defined by end walls 7, 8, only the end walls 7, 8 at one endof the slits 2, 3 appearing from FIG. 1.

[0014] At both sides of the slits 2, 3, the side walls 4, 5 and 6 ofsaid slits 2, 3 carry a row of juxtaposed projecting lips which arearranged in pairs opposite one another. The rows of lips present such awavy shape that in a complementary manner the crests of each pair oflips 9 to 24 project into the troughs of said pair. An example of acrest is shown at the reference numeral 25 and a trough at the referencenumeral 26. These wavy lips are made of a resilient elastomeric materialwhich can be rubber-like. The end walls 7 and 8 and the side walls 4 to6 of the holder define together with the bottom walls 27, 28 the housingof said holder 1, and these walls can be made of a moulded plasticmaterial, such as polypropylene. The lips 9 to 24 can be secured to theside walls 4 to 6 in any suitable manner, such as by means of glue or bybeing received in slots (not shown). However, the side walls 4 to 6 andthe lips 9 to 24 are advantageously cast integral by way of injectionmoulding substantially in the same mould, viz. first the side walls 4 to6 are cast and then the lips 9 to 24 are cast on top. of said sidewalls.

[0015] As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the wall portions 4, 5 and 6 aresuitably cast integral by way of injection moulding in such a mannerthat they are interconnected by means of film hinges 30, 31 and 32 andan end wall-forming member 33 which in the folded state represents anend wall in the slit 2.

[0016] After the manufacturing process, the housing parts or the sidewalls 4 to 6 of the holder are bent about the film hinges 30, 31 and 32while forming the slits 2 and 3, said housing parts or side walls beingkept together in the slit-forming state by means of co-operating lockingmeans 34, 35, 36, 37 and 38, 39 and 40, 41, respectively. These lockingmeans 34 to 41 are suitably formed such that they operate by way of asnap action.

[0017] In the assembled or folded state shown in FIG. 1, the holder issuited for receiving elongated articles, such as a screwdriver 42inserted downwards into a suitable slit, such as the slit 3. Thedownward insertion of the screwdriver 42 implies that it is inserteddownwards between adjacent portions of the opposing lips 15 to 24 ofeach pair of lips. These pairs of lips are suitably arranged so as to bemutually staggered whereby the crests are displaced relative to thelongitudinal direction of the slit at a quarter of a wavelength relativeto the crests/troughs of the adjacent pair of lips 15 to 24. The latterapplies also to the lips 9 to 14 of the second slit 2 which is not asdeep as the slit 3.

[0018] Each article 42 has only an effect on the adjacent portions ofthe lips 15 to 24, and accordingly an additional longitudinal articlecan be inserted downwards close to said first article 42 withoutinterfering with the safe and reliable retaining of said article 42. Inthis manner a single slit 2, 3 can receive relatively many articles,which are all retained in a reliable and secure manner inside the slits.

[0019] The invention has been described with reference to a preferredembodiment. Many modifications can be carried out without therebydeviating from the scope of the invention. The wavy shape of the lipscan for instance be provided in various ways with different curvaturesand different sizes. The holders can also comprise no more than onesingle slit or several slits.

1. A holder for receiving and retaining tools, writing utensils, kitchenutensils and the like elongated articles (42), where the holdercomprises a housing with an elongated slit (2, 3) for receiving thearticles (42), said slit (2, 3) being defined by a flexible lip (9 to24) projecting from the respective elongated sides of said slit, andwhere said lip is adapted to abut both sides of the article(s) inquestion, characterised in that the holder comprises several rows oflips (9 to 24) extending substantially in parallel, said lips beingarranged in pairs opposite one another and presenting a mutuallycomplementary, substantially wavy shape, and that the crests (25) andtroughs (26) of each pair of lips (9 to 24) engage one another.
 2. Aholder as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the crests (25) andtroughs (26) of the lips (9 to 24) are arranged so as to be mutuallystaggered from row to row.
 3. A holder as claimed in claim 1 or 2,characterised in that the elongated sides of the slit (2, 3) are formedby housing parts (4, 5, 6) of a plastic material, and that the lips (9to 24) are made by way of injection moulding of an elastomeric materialand are thereby permanently connected to the associated housing part. 4.A holder as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, characterised in that thehousing parts (4, 5 and 6) are hingedly interconnected and compriseco-operating releasable locking means (34 to 41) for retaining saidhousing parts (4, 5 and 6) in an interconnecting position while formingthe slit (2, 3).
 5. A holder as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3 or 4,characterised in that the hinged connection is provided by means of afilm hinge (30, 31 and 32) cast integral with the housing parts (4, 5and 6).